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This chapter uses Verities of the Three Perfected Lords and other sources to trace the rise and spread of Hua-kai cult in Southern Sung Chiang-hsi. It is shown that the Hua-kai cult was well known to local elite men in the Southern Sung and the Yuan, who both celebrated and worshipped the Three Immortals. Both the scattered inscriptions in Sung collected works and the rather diverse materials brought together in Verities indicate that the real rise of the Three Lords cult came only in the Southern Sung. Local elite men named Wu, Lo, and Ch'en are illustrated as actively involved in the...

This chapter uses Verities of the Three Perfected Lords and other sources to trace the rise and spread of Hua-kai cult in Southern Sung Chiang-hsi. It is shown that the Hua-kai cult was well known to local elite men in the Southern Sung and the Yuan, who both celebrated and worshipped the Three Immortals. Both the scattered inscriptions in Sung collected works and the rather diverse materials brought together in Verities indicate that the real rise of the Three Lords cult came only in the Southern Sung. Local elite men named Wu, Lo, and Ch'en are illustrated as actively involved in the celebration and worship of the Hua-kai Immortals. For the men named Lo, identity can only be presumed; but for the Wus and Ch'ens, there is no doubt: these important elite families of the Ch'ung-jen County seat were important worshippers and donors of the Hua-kai cult.